Good morning. I pray this wonderful Sunday morning greets you with a hope of joy as you worship our Mighty God. Today, I would like to have us consider the powerful messages that are delivered in the songs of worship.
Let’s start with a basic assumption: you are interested in what happens in your church’s worship services. As an active, worshipping Christian, you should be interested.
Try this exercise with me. Think about your past few worship services. What songs did you sing? Some of the songs from New Life Christian Church’s past few Sundays include songs like “Shout to the North” and “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” which are intended to inspire our hearts to be involved in worship with an expression of joy. Others, like “Come Let Us Worship and Bow Down” and “How Great Is Our God” are chosen to help build a heart of worship as we consider the nature and person of our Almighty God. Still others, like “Breathe” and “Draw Me Close to You” were selected to touch our hearts as we prepare for the Lord’s Supper. But every song that is selected to be sung in our worship is chosen because it has a peculiarly special and hopefully powerful message that enhances our worship.
This much is true of every song on our list: each song of worship only makes sense when and if it is sung by persons who truly love God and desire to worship Him. Anything else is just singing. When the congregation is truly engaged in the heart of worship, truly carried by the melody and message of the song, but even more, carried along by the desire to express our love and adoration of God, there is a dynamic difference. Everyone who has engaged in genuine worship knows exactly what I mean. Sometimes we are “feeling it” and sometimes we simply aren’t there yet. But the message of the songs being sung is consistent and powerful.
50 years or so ago, the music of worship began to undergo dramatic change. Some have said that the changes were pushed by a spirit of rebellion. What they mean is that in those turbulent and rebellious years of the late 60s, 70s, and 80s the music of worship was only one more example of many cultural areas that underwent radical change. That may be true, or partly true, or untrue. I have my opinion, but it hardly matters. What is of importance is that the heart of worship and the message of the music of worship remained focused on the Lord. As traditional hymns became increasingly supplanted by what were (and are) known as “choruses,” the older and more familiar became replaced by newer songs, rhythms, and harmonies. This was, for a time at least, new and invigorating. Does that continue to be the case today?
Does our message in worship songs continue to meet the standard presented in the command of Deuteronomy 6:5? You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
These points are absolutely certain:
1. Worship is directed to God, and its aim must always be to elevate His glory and to praise His holy name. Exalt the Lord our God; worship at his feet! Holy is he! Psalm 99:5
2. Worship is enhanced when there is a spirit of community. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:20
3. Worship is the natural expression of our hearts when we remember what God has done for us. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead… 1 Peter 1:3
Please allow the true message of worship to enter into your heart today. Please remember that the One who is the object and focus of our worship is absolutely worthy. Please listen to and reflect upon the message of worship expressed in the songs that you sing. This will allow your heart to be moved and your spirit to become free to worship your Lord in a pleasing and satisfying way. And please remember this: Whether or not you are fully engaged in worship, fully joined with the Spirit of God in worship, fully enjoying the spirit of community expressed in worship, is up to you. This is true no matter the style or type of song being sung, as long as the message of the song is true to the aim of worshipping the Father, Son, and Spirit.
God bless your worship today!
Vern